Taiwan grouper farmers struggle to keep heads above water

Taiwan grouper farmers are still struggling to recover into the lucrative market ever since Typhoon Morakot hit the country earlier in August.

The culture of groupers, also known as rock fish, in seawater aquaculture ponds in the southernmost county of Pingtung, particularly in its Linbian and Jiadong townships, had been a leading cash cow in Taiwan's aquaculture industry, with exports topping US$40 million in 2008, a figure that has jumped 48-fold in the last three years.

The fishery, however, was nearly drowned by a mass inundation triggered by Typhoon Morakot, with 90% of the grouper farms washed away or choked by silt even if the fish themselves were not washed away.

"Only about 10% of the original grouper farms remain," said Chen Chung-min, chief secretary of the Linbian Farmers Association.

Chen said that it takes at least two years for fish farmers to have their aquaculture stocks replenished and export delivery resumed.

As grouper culture is a "high risk, high investment return" business, the farmers need to raise at least NT$15 million (US$454,545) to start a pond, he said.

"Some farmers have lost over NT$50 million because of Typhoon Morakot," he noted.

In the wake of the typhoon, some managed to raise enough money to resume grouper culture, some shifted their operations to cheaper fish such as tilapia, and many were forced out of the market altogether after failing to secure loans from banks, according to Chen.